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DWC: How to combat Green Algae (quick guide)

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    DWC: How to combat Green Algae (quick guide)

    Hello fellow bubble heads.
    In case you're not familiar with my journal over the weekend I had to move my grow tent to another room.
    The move went well except for the following:
    1. I switched the ballast to 400w.
    2. I left a pot out for 4 hours.
    3. Temperatures reached 88* ambient and 78* reservoir.

    Perfect conditions for algae growth. After correcting these problems the next morning while checking the pH, roots, and reservoir temperature I noticed green algae starting on the roots of 1 plant. I wish I had taken pictures but wasn't really thinking of that at the time. Using this treatment I was able to get rid of the algae in one day. Results depends on how soon you Identify the problem.

    Green Algae causes:

    Pretty Simple. Green Algae has the same requirements as our plants to thrive. The oxygen and nutrient reservoir is an ideal environment all it needs is some light.

    Understanding Green Algae and it's effects:

    Some growers think nothing is wrong with a little bit of green algae in their culture and even think it's beneficial in the vegetative state. This may be true but once they flip to fruiting it will cause nothing but headaches.

    Green Algae, like any plant, uses photosynthesis converting water and carbon dioxide to sugars and oxygen. Sounds good right, super oxygenated reservoir, how can that be a problem. In theory, with a 24/7 light schedule, during the vegetative stage, and controlled growth of the algae it COULD be beneficial. However what happens when you flip to fruiting (or 18/6 veg).

    During dark periods Algae will do the reverse. Absorb oxygen and give off carbon dioxide.Not sounding that great now right? Not only that but it will die off. That dieoff will then decompose in your reservoir causing non-beneficial bacteria growth and beneficial bacteria to focus on them instead of guarding against other threats.

    I could go on about surfactant, emulsification, and so on but I think you can see where I'm going with this, so let's get to the treatment.

    First a few key things:

    1. Early Detection. I check my plants every day (you could say I'm neurotic). I start with the reservoir temp, pH, roots, and solution contaminats. Then ambient temp, Rh, plants, then pots.

    2. Correct problems that cause algae. Temperatures and light leaks.

    3. Stay calm.

    Treatment:

    Once you have solved the causes we can treat the problem.

    1. Gently rinse off your affected roots to remove, and loosen algea. I use a spare line from the manifold of the top feed.

    2. I use rapid rooters and hydroton in 3.75" net pots. I treated both pots even though only one was affected and I caught it early. Pour 3% H2O2 directly onto rapid rooter until saturated. For me this was about a tablespoon.

    3. Pour 1 tablespoon of 3% H2O2 on hydroton. I slowly pour in a circle starting from the outside in and ensure that they are evenly coated.

    4. Wait 1 hour.

    ​​​​​​4a. My pump has a filter at this point I remove and rinse off the filter. To get rid of any algae that came off due to rinsing and that came off with the H2O2. You can also use a fine dip net.

    5. You should see a difference in your roots. The remaining algae should have faded and/or even turned brown. There will probably still be green algae visible we'll address that in the next step.

    6. Lower your pH to 5.0. This will kill the remaining green algae.

    7. After about 4 hours you should see a drastic difference. For me the algae that was on the longest roots were gone and the green that was on the small roots at the pots had turned brown and after 8hrs there was no trace.

    8. Follow up the next day check pH, roots, and clean filter or dip net dead algae. Retreat if necessary. If there are no signs of algae add beneficial bacteria (I use Hydroguard) at half strength.

    *Note
    For extreme infestation use Grapefruit Seed Extract. 1 tsp per gallon.
    ( Thanks alltatup )

    Hopefully noone will have to use this but here it is just in case.

    Happy Growing 💚💧🌱🌲🔥🗣💨
    Last edited by POKEDSMOT; 03-08-2017, 10:18 AM.
    Completed #1: http://forum.growweedeasy.com/forum/...dwc-apocalypse

    My forever grow.

    2x400w MH/HPS (veg 6/2 /flower 12/12)

    100w t-5 (nursery)

    6"can fan and filter 480cfm max set to 240cfm exhausted outside.

    Blue Planet Nutrients Farmer's Pride Organic
    .
    5gal. Eco Oganics pots.

    Coco soil and pearl

    Light cycle: 6/2 veg. 12/12 flower


    https://forum.growweedeasy.com/forum...-well-sort-of

    Friendly advice:
    If you want to grow top shelf weed, arm yourself with knowledge:
    http://www.growweedeasy.com/basics

    #2
    I re-read your post and I see that what you did was a fast solution to a beginning problem!! Excellent strategy.
    Last edited by alltatup; 03-23-2018, 04:41 AM. Reason: I mis-read post originally
    Anyone can grow schwag. If you want to grow top shelf bud, study hard: https://www.growweedeasy.com

    Growing since July 21, 2016; pothead since 1967
    2 BCNL Roommate hydroponic grow boxes w/ 400w COB LEDs, Future Harvest nutes
    Grow # 18, Aug. 2023: Anesia Seeds: Imperium X, Future 1, Sleepy Joe, Slurricane

    Comment


    • POKEDSMOT
      POKEDSMOT commented
      Editing a comment
      GSE is great for combatting numerous problems. For some it is not readily available.The method I described is meant to be fast and direct treatment without destroying helpful bacteria.

    • alltatup
      alltatup commented
      Editing a comment
      I got a big bag of pure GSE powder on Amazon. All of this hydroponic stuff is becoming more readily available.

    #3
    Like you stated-algae is a plant so it needs light to make its food. No light=no algae so keep the roots dark and there can't be any algae growth. My first hydro grow used orange buckets and although I didn't get any major growth I did get some algae growth. I switched to black buckets and zero algae. Try to keep temps below 80 if possible and I use hydrogard as a preventative and it works well for me.
    WHAT???
    5x5 grow space
    900w of Vero's and F-strips
    4-17gal totes self-made UC system.

    Comment


    #4
    Question: if i use hydroguard as a preventative already, will I have to re-inoculate the reservoir with 1/2tsp per gallon after peroxide treatment? I would assume so, but I a) don't wanna waste and b) don't wanna risk having too much 'good' bacteria and creating another problem (if too much of a good thing is a bad thing in this case?). Must say, it did a good enough job keeping the algae growth out of the reservoir for the most part, only a few roots under water had some of the green crap growing on 'em, the infestation was largely on the not as opaque as i thought cheap ass thin plastic lid, and in the net pots that were unoccupied and had no top feed. Thanks in advance for any feedback.

    Comment


    • alltatup
      alltatup commented
      Editing a comment
      Hey doggy, Yes, you are right. Using H202 will kill all the good bacteria.

      I cover every hole with polystyrene net pot covers, and in my reservoir, I put black electrical tape around every hole leading into the reservoir. Light getting in can be a vicious culprit.

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